Shigetaka Kurita

The 27th Annual Webby Awards is humbled to honor Shigetaka Kurita with the 2023 Webby Lifetime Achievement Award for creating emoji, the ubiquitous images that have become essential to communication in the 21st century. Since creating the first set of 176 emoji in 1999, Shigetaka’s emoji have evolved from rudimentary symbols into uniquely digital forms of communication that transcend cultures, borders, and even language barriers.

More than a fun way to enhance conversation through the over 2,600 colorful emoji in use worldwide, emoji have also become instrumental in furthering online dialogues about inclusiveness in our symbols, across race, gender identities, abilities, sexual orientation, and beyond. This has led to a wide range of new emoji over the years that help foster a sense of belonging and inclusion for people everywhere, making the Internet a more welcoming, and fun, space.

For giving us an invaluable new vocabulary and making the Internet a more vibrant, inclusive, and expressive medium, it is our great privilege to honor Shigetaka Kurita with the 2023 Webby Lifetime Achievement Award.